Johnston Island

Location: Johnston Atoll, North Pacific Ocean

Also Known As: JI

Historical Summary

Johnston Island (JI) is an island of Johnston Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean
that was used in the 1950s and 1960s for rocket launches in
support of above-ground and below-ground nuclear tests. Between 1958 and 1975, many scientific sounding
rockets were also launched from Johnston Island.

Systems

Thor

Redstone

DASA Strypi Antares

Nike Apache

USAF
Javelin

USAF
Nike Cajun

Sandia
Terrier Sandhawk

Sandia Terrier Tomahawk

Sandia Nike Tomahawk

AEC Castor-Recruit

Livermore Ascamp

Sandia Doorknob

USAF Honest John Nike

USAF Nike Hercules

Other Programs

Air Force Program 437

Fishbowl

Hardtack Orange

Cost: Not available

Launch Complex Highlights

Johnston Island Summary

1 August 1958 - First launch

6 November 1975 - Last launch

Total launches - 145

2003 - All facilities, launch pads and the runway were
closed down

Launch Complex 1 (LC-1)

Army Redstone complex

1 August 1958 - Army Redstone (CC-50) launched. Hardtack
Team nuclear test,
3.8 MT for Nike-Zeus ASAT program. Failure during flight of
the tilt program, but payload detonated as planned.